Steelers are playing with a decided lack of ego. It's helped pave the way for their 4

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers paid outside linebacker Alex Highsmith in 2023 to be one of the best players at his position in the league.

They did the same on the eve of the following season when they signed tight end Pat Freiermuth t o a lucrative contract extension .

Yet here the two established veterans are well into 2025, sharing playing time with younger, lower-profile teammates either because of injury (Highsmith) or circumstance (Freiermuth) and the emergence of the guys below them on the depth chart (both).

Nick Herbig stepped in while Highsmith dealt with an ankle injury and showed signs of blossoming into a game-wrecking star like his mentor, T.J. Watt . Freiermuth led the Steelers in receptions in 2024 but now finds himself in a crowded tight ends room t